Most do not make their actual living from playing chess (maybe the top 100 in the world can do so). Many can make some money from playing, but are also authors, coaches and seconds to Super GMs.
Some only play for fun now, and have proper jobs.
Do all GMs make their living off of chess?
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There is the money from tournaments, coaching, sponsorship, and writing, but I can't see even some in the top 100 making a decent living.
And I can't see those who work and are grandmasters being able to give time to anything else (e.g. family).
Jan 2, 2010
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#5
You are of course correct. I remember GM Nigel Short saying that when he dropped out of the top 50, he struggled to get invites to the decent money tournaments. Now he is back up their, he does not have this trouble though.
Not many GMs have sponsors (I see Magnus Carlsen does though).
Jan 2, 2010
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#6
theimprovingplayer wrote:
There is the money from tournaments, coaching, sponsorship, and writing, but I can't see even some in the top 100 making a decent living.
And I can't see those who work and are grandmasters being able to give time to anything else (e.g. family).
Depends on what you call "decent". 
Generally speaking, you have to be at the top to earn a lot & receive lots of attention from the media (and, subsequently, sponsorships, contracts, etc.). A modest GM who doesn't want to do anything except playing chess will indeed have a very hard time.
Chess, unfortunately, isn't a very lucrative sport, so I don't understand how all of the GMs or even most of the GMs can make a living from chess.